Methods and systems for configuration-based imaging device accounting

• US 7,519,307 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lovat, David J., Zhang, Hanzhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ready; Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/192,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20060078345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 399/79
• US Class Current: 399/79
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/02 Counting the number of copies; Billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for configuration-based imaging device accounting wherein costs are calculated based on detailed job parameters derived from job configuration data.

Claims

1. A method for imaging device accounting, said method comprising:

a) receiving imaging device (IDev) user interface (UI) display content at an IDev via an IDev UI application programming interface (API) residing on said IDev, wherein said IDev UI display content is received from a remote computing device (RCD) with an RCD application in communication with said UI API;

b) displaying said IDev UI display content on an IDev UI display;

c) receiving, at said imaging device (IDev) user interface (UI), user input comprising job configuration data for a job to be performed at said IDev;

d) sending said job configuration data from said IDev to said RCD;

e) sending, from said IDev to said RCD, pixel data related to said job;

f) deriving detailed job parameters from said job configuration data and said pixel data at said RCD;

g) calculating a job cost using said detailed job parameters at said RCD;

h) accessing account data comprising accounting restrictions with said RCD;

i) determining, at said RCD, whether said accounting restrictions will allow said job to be executed based on said job cost;

j) receiving authorization, from said RCD at said IDev, authorizing said job to be executed when said job complies with said accounting restrictions; and

k) executing said job on said IDev in response to receipt of said authorization.

2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising automatically modifying said detailed job parameters when said job does not comply with said accounting restrictions.

3. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising prompting a user to modify said detailed job parameters when said job does not comply with said accounting restrictions.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said job configuration data is at least partially accomplished with an XML/SOAP message.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending authorization is at least partially accomplished with an XML/SOAP message.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said deriving detailed job parameters comprises calculation of a parameter that is not directly input by a user.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said detailed job parameters comprises measurement of a parameter that is not directly input by a user.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said accessing is at least partially accomplished with an XML/SOAP message.

9. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said measurement of a parameter that is not directly input by a user comprises measurement of consumable resources.

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said detailed job parameters comprise a parameter selected from the set consisting of:

media type, media size, media quantity, quantity of impressions per page, pixel count data, image resolution, finishing operations, stapling requirements, punching requirements, collating requirements, color attributes, color depth, color quantity, ink consumption, toner consumption, contrast media consumption, monochrome attributes, greyscale attributes, double sided characteristics, single-sided characteristics, N-Up formatting, paper tray selection, scan destination, print destination, power consumption and job type.

11. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said job cost is proportional to an aggregate cost of all materials and resources used for said job.

12. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said account data is accessed on a remote device.

13. A system for imaging device accounting, said system comprising:

a) an imaging device (IDev) for performing imaging jobs, said imaging device comprising;

i) an IDev user interface (UI) comprising an IDev display and an IDev user input device,

ii) an IDev UI application programming interface (API) for providing a remote computing device (RCD) application with access to said IDev display and UI device and for providing said RCD application with control over IDev functions, and

iii) at least one IDev function processor for performing an IDev job;

b) a remote computing device (RCD), said RCD comprising,

i) IDev UI display content,

ii) an RCD application for transmitting said IDev UI display content to said IDev API, for receiving IDev job configuration data from said IDev, for receiving IDev job pixel data and for activating an IDev function via said IDev UI API;

iii) a deriving processor for deriving detailed job parameters from said job configuration data and said pixel data at said RCD;

iv) a calculator for calculating a job charge using said detailed job parameters at said RCD;

v) an accounting application for determining whether accounting restrictions will allow said job to be executed based on said job charge; and

vi) an authorizer, at said RCD, for authorizing said job to be executed when said job complies with said accounting restrictions.

14. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said RCD application uses an XML/SOAP method call to accomplish said transmitting said job configuration data from said IDev to said RCD.

15. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said authorizer uses an XML/SOAP method call to accomplish said authorizing.

16. A system as described in claim 13 further comprising a modifier for automatically modifying said detailed job parameters when said job does not comply with said accounting restrictions.

17. A system as described in claim 13 further comprising a prompter for prompting a user to modify said detailed job parameters when said job does not comply with said accounting restrictions.

18. A system as described in claim 13 further comprising a measurer for measuring a first detailed job parameter.

19. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said accounting application is remote to said RCD.